Humans of SCSU: “The story isn’t just a tale”

Megan Williams, a junior English major, was reading a book comprised of short stories.

Tell me about yourself as a student.

“Well, I just changed my major, which is fun. I was a communications disorders major beforehand and it made sense. Like, I knew I could get a job in it, I was interested in it, I wasn’t bad at it. But it was a bit of a struggle, but I knew I could do it if I tried really hard. I just didn’t feel right staying with that major, so I wanted to change to English because it’s what I am passionate about. And I think that is why we should be in school, to pursue something we are passionate about over pushing something that will help the corporate grind so to speak.”

How is it pursuing your love of English?

“Amazing, you can just sit on a bench and read books instead of studying something and memorizing a piece of paper.”

What’s your favorite literature?

“That’s really hard. I hate picking favorites because I’m usually indecisive, but I have to say one of my favorites would be Toni Morrison just because she’s really messed up (laughs). You can’t expect the stuff she has in her novels.”

How has literature changed you as a person?

“It’s definitely made me more understanding, and that I try and figure out other people’s lives and their perspectives more because the wonderful thing about literature and books is that it gives you a snapshot in someone’s life. The story isn’t just a tale, it gives you an interesting perspective into another human being’s life. That’s not something we get in the real world, like you get your own experiences and our own perspectives but we very rarely get to actually walk around in someone’s shoes.”